[Entertainment/Performances] Ideas for Performances to Introduce at Kindergartens and Nursery Schools—Great for Children and Staff
At kindergartens and nursery schools, there are often opportunities to include entertainment and performances for fun.
Many teachers are probably wondering what kinds of activities they can plan for the children.
This time, we’ve gathered ideas that are perfect for such entertainment and performances.
From activities that children can take the lead in and enjoy themselves to ideas that teachers and parents can perform for the kids, we’re introducing a wide range.
If your ideas have become repetitive and you’re looking for something new…
Please use this as a reference.
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[Entertainment/Performances] Fun activities to include at kindergartens and nursery schools! Performance ideas for children and staff (11–20)
A fun magic trick of guessing fruit
Let’s enjoy a quiz using two illustrated panels.
Shuffle the panels so the illustrations can’t be seen, then ask the children, “Which one is the ◯◯?” and have them answer.
Start by shuffling once or twice, and gradually increase the number of shuffles.
The fun twist in this idea is that it ends like a magic trick! Even though the panels were supposed to show an orange and an apple, before you know it, they both turn into oranges.
The secret is that you’re performing it by layering the apple illustration on top of the orange!
Fun to search! Transforming Game
This is a game where you compare teachers before and after they transform and find the differences.
The classic spot-the-difference is done by comparing illustrations, but since the teachers can’t duplicate themselves, you’ll need to remember their pre-transformation appearance carefully.
Changes range from easy ones—like holding a toy or a piece of fruit—to trickier ones, such as a different T-shirt color or accessories.
Be sure to include a variety of change patterns and encourage the children to aim for a perfect score!
puppet show
Puppet shows are a fun activity that children and teachers can work on together.
The key is enjoying the whole process with the children, from making the puppets to performing.
Another appeal is that they can be performed with a wide range of themes, from traditional tales to original stories.
It’s a valuable experience that nurtures imagination and expressive skills.
Puppet shows are perfect for school events because both the audience and the performers can enjoy them.
It’s also important to value the collaborative process—dividing roles that showcase each child’s individuality, making costumes, and creating the production together.
Apron Theater
Apron theater is a wonderful activity that teachers and children can enjoy together.
You attach small props to a colorful apron with hook-and-loop fasteners and advance the story as you go.
The dynamic staging is sure to spark the children’s imaginations.
Choosing themes like animals or seasonal events makes the stories feel familiar and approachable.
Because it’s visually engaging, it’s certain to make children’s eyes light up.
Parents, why not try incorporating this method at home as well? It seems like a great way to create more fun time together with your children.
hero show
Hero shows are performances that capture children’s hearts.
It’s so exciting when the teachers wear handmade costumes and act out an original story.
Making props together with the children also sounds fun.
It’s appealing that the kids can sense the hero’s courage and sense of justice.
A show created through everyone’s cooperation will surely become an unforgettable memory.
Just imagining the children’s eyes shining makes me thrilled.
From making the costumes to the final performance, it seems like something we can enjoy working on together with the children.
Mysterious Pocket
Let’s have fun singing the beloved children’s song “Fushigina Pocket” (The Magic Pocket).
Are those forest animals? I heard there’s a birthday child, so they’ve brought all sorts of tasty treats.
Cookies, biscuits, doughnuts, fruit… When you pat the pocket, they multiply and keep coming out.
Before taking things out of the pocket, describe their features—like “Round, with a hole, and sweet?”—so the children can imagine what will appear next and enjoy the guessing.
At the end, a cake is completed, making it perfect for a birthday party.
[Entertainment/Performances] Ideas for Activities to Use in Kindergartens and Daycare Centers! Performances for Children and Staff (21–30)
Play with balloons! Birthday party
After asking the children, “What’s everyone’s favorite color?”, we blow up balloons in the colors they mention and play with them.
We draw pictures on the balloons that match each color, and then sing songs related to those pictures.
For example, for a green balloon, draw a frog and sing “Kaeru no Gasshō” (The Frog Chorus).
It’s a fun game where you can look forward to which illustrations will appear and which songs you’ll sing based on the balloon colors.
If you do this at a birthday party, a cake illustration is, of course, a must.